olblue51

iTrader: (21)

It's all good, sorry if I got a little defensive. No hard feelings I just didn't want him to think he would be stuck with fluxcore if he tried it.

You do make a good point about stick welding though. I personally think it's best to learn on a stick welder first but not always practical. Stick welding is pretty much the basis for all other types of arc welding and once you know how to do it the other types seem easy. Except for TIG maybe... that's just plain frustrating when starting out.

I took a few welding classes at the local community college. The first one I took was for stick welding. It's definatley a great skill to know and I was able to learn it without having to buy a stick welder that I would hardly ever use. Taking classes is a great way to learn welding. They might be a little expensive but the amount of practice you get and all of the equipment and material at your disposal far outweighs the tuition.

Camaroholic

iTrader: (1)

Speaking of classes, mine starts in September - night course for Continuing Education at Texas State Technical College. Cost is $199. It's supposedly an SMAW - stick - welding class. I'm very much looking forward to it.

olblue51

iTrader: (21)

You'll love it. You will be welding so much you'll will be dreaming in green tint while you sleep. That's a great price too! That's how much I paid at Tarrant County College and that was 7 years ago. I think it's gone up since then.

99345hp

I have a two year degree in welding and joining technology. I went to North Georgia Tech. Those continuing education classes are great for learning for a hobby. My classes were more geared towards welding as a career. Start out with stick plate then pipe. Next was mig plate. Third was flux core with shielding gas (that is some HOT!! ****). Last was Tig. Most of the courses were just building up on pipe welding, but everything was taught. There were also some blueprinting classes in there.

DrkPhx

iTrader: (15)

Bringing this one back up for a quick question. I'm looking for a basic, low cost welder for exhaust only. Any recommendations?

olblue51

iTrader: (21)

The same 110v mig welders mentioned before. You could buy a lower amp welder if your just going to be doing exhaust. You can probably fetch a good name brand 100amp mig welder for a couple hundred.

moneypit00

Most everyone on here is right! Your NOT going to put down a decent bead for $100. I've built my offroad rig from the ground up using a Lincoln 140 from Lowe's. Cost almost $500 but if you get it on Lowe's credit you'll get an extra 10% off. Anything less than this unit is worthless. Look at Lincoln and Hobart/Miller. (Miller owns Hobart) Gas produces the best welds, but with higher initial cost and maintenance. Fluxcore is simpler to use and not affected by wind such as working outside, and you can reach into tighter places with it because of the tip design. Find someone local to help you out!!!!!!

moneypit00

OH, I use fluxcore since my welds don't have to look better than my rig. Lincoln 140 with flux will weld 1/4" no problem. 5/16 with a double pass.

ks my ss

like said before stick with a miller/hobart or lincoln. i have used many off brand types of welders that friends bought and wanted me to try out for them (against my advise) and was not impressed with any of them. i even had a craftsman burn up inside after 5 minutes of use.

my dad has an old miller cricket that he bought to weld on my old street rod back in 91 or 92 and its still alive and kicking and does great welds. i just bought a lincoln 140c and it does amazing work. i got the spool gun and all the options for it also.

my family has been in the welding biz since before wwII, my uncle built and owned one of the largest weld shops in the midwest so when they say its the big three or nothing i believe them.

Duckslayer08

I recently bought a Millermatic DVI2 mig welder i paid right around 1400 dollars for the machine,wire,and a hood..then a bottle of C25 (sheilding gas) for like 285.so 1700 bucks and i have a badass welding machine that welds up to 3/8 plate

rubbersdown

iTrader: (1)

I am a lincoln ***** myself. I have...
a Lincoln HD weldpack - Good 120v mig welder, good starter mig, about $500 at home depot, I got it so I can take it from job to job.
a Lincoln Power mig 180c - Verry good 220v mig welder
a Lincoln precision tig 275 - bad *** 220v tig welder but very heavy.
Also have a miller plasma cutter, I just bought a miller because i got such a screaming deal on it. but miller or lincoln is the way to go, I just prefer lincoln because its what i have always used.

Pharcyde50

iTrader: (11)

Lincoln 3200 hd here! I've used it to build several TD systems and weld on subframes. I picked it up at homedepot when I was a manager and gave myself an open box discount I call it the free beer machine cause my friends know they better be bringing some miller lite over if they want me to fire it up.

rubbersdown

iTrader: (1)

I need to start that policy at my house!

SoxXpupPeT

iTrader: (34)

we just got a lincoln 140 mig at the shop. fantastic 110v machine. did my entire exhaust with it this weekend

https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-modifications/978564-new-exhaust-my-94-z.html

lil benny

how are harbor freights mig welders? any recommendations for something around 300 ish?

Camaroholic

iTrader: (1)

Harbor Freight welders are a box full of regret. I'd buy used, to be honest (which is what I did). I have no doubt you can find a decent used MIG welder for $300 locally. 3 brands. Miller, Hobart, Lincoln. Buy a used one, and:

1) If you outgrow it, you can likely sell it for close to what you bought it for.
2) If you need a part, you can get them at just about any welding shop (try that with a HF welder). Welders are full of wear items, from drive rolls to tips, and just about every part in between.

Look for a welder that will do MIG as well as flux core (don't get one that is flux core only). MIG gas is worth the expense.

I've seen small Lincolns in the $300 range used on Craigslist. I'd get one of those over a new HF welder any day. I've even seen a couple small Millers in that range, but not as often.

olblue51

iTrader: (21)

Like mentioned above, one of the worst things about off brand welders is finding replacement parts.

crashinaz

iTrader: (35)

I've been through a lot of MIG machines. The best "all around welders" are the small 220V 180amp machines... Once you start welding, you'll likely outgrow a 110v or cheap HF machine quickly. The smaller 220v name brand machines will grow with you.

rice4eatingnotdrivin

tig welding is where the money is at!!!

u dont want to use a stick welder anywhere near a car... a mig welder is more along the lines of what u need.. flux coreds are alright... the welds dont look the greatest though and they tend to break real easy.. try to find a good gas mig welder.. u will be much happier and the welds will look awesome... gas mixture is a 75% argon 25% co2

rice4eatingnotdrivin

lincoln or miller all the way.... thoughs are what i use at the shop